Elsctsic stessietg system



H. E. GOUGE. ELECTRIC STE RING-SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- 6. I920- Pamea Apr. 26', 1921.

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H. E. GOUGE.

ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED. AUG-6,1920- Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

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ELECTRIC STLEEPTNG- SYSTEM.

Application filed August 6, 1920.

f '0 ((ZZ an [2 out it may concern l .io v11 that 1, Homes E. Goren, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bristol, in the county of Sullivan and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Steering Systems, of which the following; is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steering mechanism for motor vehicles, and has particular application to an electric steering mechanism.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide an electric steering mechanism for motor vehicles which will embody a reversible motor connected with the steering wheel of the vehicle and under the control of a hand controller located within convenient reach of the driver of the vehicle and automatic circuit breakers oper able to break the circuit through the motor automatically in the event of the steering wheel being turned at too great an angle, thereby reducing the possibility of accident due to carelessness or forgetfulness.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a view in side elevation of a vehicle equipped with steering mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, parts being broken away.

Figs. l and 5 are diagrammatic views, showing: the steering wheels in their extreme positions.

0 is a vertical sectional view through the controller, the drum and contacts being shown in front elevation.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the controller, drum and contact.

Fig. ll is a diagrammatic view showing the circuit connection.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the invention as a oplied to the rudder of a vessel.

Fi g. 10 is a plan view showing the motor connect d to the steering); wheels of a motor vehicle equipped with the usual operating mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, 1 designates the frame of a motor vehicle. In the present instance the forward end of the motor vehicle is equipped with depending vertical 3 and 7, respectively, arranged upon .cles of the center of the vehicle,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

Serial No. 402,029.

and connected to the lower ends of the shafts 6 and '7 and projecting outwardly therefrom at right angles thereto are spindles 4 and 5, respectively, upon which are mounted the steering wh els 2 and 3 of the vehicle. These shafts 6 and 7 are capable of rotary movement in order to effect the steering of the vehicle, and secured to the upper end of the shaft .6 is an arm 8, while connected to the shaft 7 below the upper extremity thereof is an arm 9 connected to the arm 8 through the mediiini of a connecting rod 17, so that motion may be permitted from one shaft to the other. Fixed upon the upper end of the shaft 7 above the arm 9 is a worm gear 10 meshing with a worm 11 fixed uponone end of a horizontal shaft 12 journaled in horizontally alined bearings and having the other end equipped with a spur gear 13 meshins with a pinion 14 carried upon the armature shaft 15 of a reversible motor 16. Bv means of this construction, it will be seen that when the motor is onerated in one direction motion will be permitted through the shaft 12 and worm to the worm gear 10, thereby rotating the shaft 7 and the shaft 6 connected to the shaft 7 to turn the steering wheels 2 and 3 in one direction while when the motor is turned in the other direction, the steering wheels will be likewise effected.

Mounted upon the motor shank and disposed within convenient reach of the driver is a controller 27' embodying a vertical casing in which is rotatably mounted a rotatable drum 26 having the upper end of the shaft thereof projecting through the top wall of the casing and equipped with a handle 2r, whereby the drum may be rotated in one direction or the other. Surrounding the drum 26' adjacent to the lower end thereof and arranged one above the other are current collecting rings 31 and 32, and bearing. upon the rings 31 and 32 are brushes 83 and 34;, respectively. connected to the respective terminals of a source of electrical energy, such, for instance, as a battery Siutablysecured to the drum above the current collecting rings 31 and 32 and arranged in a row are contact segments 19, 20, 21 and 22, and arranged alongside of the said contact segments and spaced. apart therefrom, are similar seg- Inents 23, 24:, 25 and 26, and secured to the casing of the controller and adapted to enthe respective segments 19 and 20, when the drum is turned in one direction tnG drum is turned in one direction and the segments 25 and 26 when the drum turned in the other direction.

ture terminals of the n- 28 are connected to t clearly illustrated in T Suitably secured to hicle below the breakers 36 anal sides of? one end of e .9 and pivoted :it its other cinh n at 4-8, and having the centran portion thereof connector to the rod 17. These circuit breakers are disposed in positions corresponding to the extreme movements of the steering wheels so that when said wheels are in either oi their extreme positions the lever 49 will engage the corresponding circin breaker to open the circuit controller by such brealze The current collecting rii 31 is conr to the contact segments 21 and by in of a conductor 38, and is connected i contact segments and by mean; Oi conductor 39, and connecting the conduct 38 and 39 at a point between the contact and 21 and the contacts 23 and 25 is :1 hi conductor 40. The current collecting ri 32 is connected to the contact segment by means of a conductor 41 end to the r tact segment 26 by means of a corzlucter t heading from the contact seg zzneni' s :a conductor 43 terminally connected to m side of the circuit lJienlrer :36, while ent from the segment 24 is n conductor 44 t nally connected to one side of the circu breaker 87. The o her sides of the ole nit breakers 36 and 3'? are connected to the side of the battery opposite from that connected to the brush by means of? a conductor 45.

In practice, when it is desired to turn the steering wheels of the vehicle in one ii -rec tion, the controllm' drum 26 is rotated to engage the segments 19 and and and 22 with the brushes 2? and 2r, respe tively. \Vhen these connections are mull) current flows from one side o the battery 7 through the ring 31 the contact segnnent the field of the motor, the contact segment 22 and then back to the other side or" the battery by way of the ringand brush Current also flows through the segment 20 the armature of the motor, the segment 19 the conductor 43, the circuit breaker 36, and the conductor 45 back to the other side of." the battery. Thus the motor is energized to turn the steering wheel in one direction, and

are circuit d at opposite of the vehicle.

through the ring 31, the segment 25, i 28, the field oi the motor, the other 28, the segment 26 and then back to the other side of the battn'y. This current also flows through the segment 23 by way of the conductor 39 the brush 2?, the motor urnizn ture the other brush, the segment 24 conductor 44, the circuit breaker 37, an to the battery by way oi? the confi or In Fig. 9 of the drawings, I hare shown a ships rudder 5, having the u r one of the shaft 52 thereof equipped i gear 55 meshing with a worm i 1 H I war Jf'hl so de- (lQSitlfi ed and I do not .iinit invsel t to the prom tai s oi construction herein. r i ZIUXllllCiTbl DnS and yz'ufiuti may be made within the scope oi the chum 11nd without de mrtingr from the spirit oi the i uvention.

Having; described my invention. what I claim and desire to secure by licttersPatc.it. is:-

An electric steering; vehicles, comp the steering;- wheels. o fertneul she l' ing said wheels means interonnect wheels for SlITlllltlliiGll? increment having a gear connection wi h one oi? said shafts. a source of current. control sn .tvh in circuit with said source it cur! said motor. a shaft connected i switch and with said wheel llil el'i ollilvt'llllr" 1 means whereby said switch iuuy be :uitea cally moved to break said circuit upon wheels being turned to a dangerous :Lngle.

In testimony whereof I affix my shgnr turc.

HORACE EZEKIEL GOUGE.

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